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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How old was the little girl that was abducted and killed during the time Ressler was a boy?

2. The _______ killer is one that kills on an impulse, without planning ahead as they don't know when it will happen.

3. What needs to happen for an organized killer in order for their actions to feel complete?

4. How did the murderer decide whom to kill?

5. What is the distinction that Ressler makes for this murderer, according to his own description?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ressler speculate about the killer of the young boy?

2. What does the case of John Joubert IV reveal about his drive to kill?

3. What was found several blocks away after the murder of a family of three as well as their baby?

4. What are some of the consistent similarities that Ressler finds among serial killers?

5. What does Ressler find out about the way that serial killers seem to view life as they grow up?

6. What was the result of the interviews that Ressler had with Mason?

7. What does Ressler find to be the relationship between serial killers and their mothers?

8. Why did Ressler come up with the terms 'organized' and 'disorganized' when it came to describing killers?

9. What sort of data does Ressler collect in relationship to serial killers and their murderous actions?

10. What did the young Ressler do in response to the murder cases he learned about as a child?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The question of whether serial killers are born or made is one that comes up for Ressler.

Part 1: Do you think serial killers are born or made? Why?

Part 2: What would it mean if it were discovered that serial killers are made?

Part 3: What would it mean if it were proven that all serial killers are born the way they are?

Essay Topic 2

During his time at BSU, Ressler studied killers who seemed to enjoy the act of killing others.

Part 1: Why do you think some serial killers appear to enjoy killing their victims?

Part 2: How do you think a person can begin to enjoy the act of killing others? Or, is it inherent in their personality?

Part 3: Do you think that you could ever change into a person who would enjoy killing others?

Essay Topic 3

The term 'serial killers' is one that Ressler coins in order to distinguish them from other murderers.

Part 1: Why is it important to differentiate a 'serial killer' from other murderers?

Part 2: What do you think of the idea of a serial killer?

Part 3: How do you think serial killers are treated versus other types of killers in the world?

(see the answer keys)

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